Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday took a swipe at Union home minister Amit Shah over his Maha Kumbh visit, saying "dip in Ganga won't remove poverty".
The Congress chief launched a scathing attack on the BJP, saying the saffron party leaders were "competing with each other to take the dip in the Ganga river for the sake of cameras".
Kharge clarified that he didn’t want to hurt anyone’s “aastha” (faith).
"Is poverty ended by taking a dip in the Ganga? Does it fill your stomach? I don't want to question anyone's 'aastha (faith)'. If anyone feels bad, I apologise. But tell me, when a child is dying of hunger, is not going to school, labourers are not getting their dues, at such a time, these people are spending thousands of rupees and competing for taking dips (in the Ganga)," Kharge said.
The Rajya Sabha leader of the opposition went further and called the BJP-RSS people “traitors” and said the Congress will never allow the poor to be exploited in the name of religion.
Kharge targeted PM Modi and Shah, saying "they have committed so many sins that they cannot go to heaven in 100 lives."
Kharge’s remark was retorted by BJP’s Puri Lok Sabha MP Sambit Patra who said Congress president’s statement was an "attack on the faith of crores of Hindus".
"While the whole world is talking about the Mahakumbh, India's biggest Opposition party is negating it. Crores of people are pained to hear the statement made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Mahakumbh. He said- "Will poverty be eliminated by taking the holy dip river Ganga? Will people get employment?"...Can Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress party, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi say the same for any other religion? Such statements against Sanatan Dharm are shameful," said Sambit Patra.
"Rahul Gandhi and Congress should explain their anti-Sanatan thinking...Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi should apologise to every person who has faith in Sanatan Dharma and the entire nation," he added;.
Kharge also pointed out the increase in the number of pleas seeking surveys of Mosque and Dargahs and said BJP-RSS are still "instigate" people, despite RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's "don't look for Shivling under every mosque" remark.
"The RSS-BJP are 'deshdrohi' (traitors). If you want to free yourself from poverty and unemployment, then protect the Constitution and remain united," Kharge said while addressing a "Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan" rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow.
He continued his attack saying the people of RSS who abuse Congress today did nothing for the country’s freedom struggle and independence as they were with the British.
He also mentioned Amit Shah’s comment in Rajya Sabha last year during the Constitution debate.
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